Conservation Connection
Water quality results for 2023 in Story County
Our annual report for the 2023 water monitoring season in Story County is now available, along with a summary of key findings. Another drought year brought high E. coli and low dissolved oxygen, but some encouraging trends.
Paddling While Impaired
Iowa’s draft 2024 Impaired Waters List is up for public comment. If you are wondering where to find cleaner lakes and rivers for recreation, we have an interactive map to help you, as well as some observations on this latest assessment.
Green Stuff in the Skunk River
No it’s not an early St. Patrick’s Day celebration! That strange color in the South Skunk River is probably a blue-green algae bloom, stimulated by unseasonably warm weather. If you see water like this, be cautious, they can produce toxins.
Inch Your Way to Loving Worms!
We won’t be talking about love or flowers this Valentine’s Day, but we’ll talk about some love-able critters that eat flowers! We’re talking about CATERPILLARS!
Metrics from the 2023 monitoring season
We’re still crunching numbers from the 2023 monitoring season in Story County, but here’s a few numbers that should be left uncrunched.
Can Infrastructure Spending Help Iowa’s Polluted Rivers?
Maybe! This case study from the Raccoon River shows why we can’t ignore point sources of pollution, and why we need more transparency about the permit decisions that drive costs and timelines for wastewater treatment.
Prairie Rivers of Iowa Director Leaves Behind a Dynamic Tenure of Leadership
Prairie Rivers of Iowa Executive Director Penny Brown Huber has established a culture of teamwork, insight, and encouragement for over a decade.
A Year of Pollinator Progress!
Prairie Rivers was able to accomplish many pollinator goals in 2023! From mobilizing a city-wide plan to improve the plight of pollinators to receiving a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant, we have been working hard to educate the public and serve our natural community!
Prairie Rivers of Iowa Has Had a Busy and Productive 2023
Our programs this year reached kids, families, landowners, historic homeowners and business owners, communities, natural resource professionals, and like-minded not-for-profits. We also oversaw a national prairie conference in Iowa.